Swiss government introduces measures to limit heatwave risks

Bern is introducing measures to minimise the risks posed by heatwaves.

Keystone-SDA

The Federal Council on Wednesday adopted a climate adaptation strategy and action plan for 2026–2031, outlining measures to better prepare Switzerland for the impacts of climate change.

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This content was published on

October 28, 2026 – 14:42

This strategy sets out objectives for adapting to climate change and identifies measures in 30 areas, bringing the total number in the action plan to 56.

The Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) has been asked to establish a centre of expertise to coordinate between the relevant stakeholders and to monitor health to assess the effectiveness of the adaptation measures.

An image from a thermal camera showing people walking across a square

Climate adaptation

Why Switzerland is still not ready to face heatwaves

This content was published on

Sep 9, 2026

Several Swiss cities have strengthened their measures against heatwaves. However, a nationwide strategy is still lacking.

Funding for research projects to strengthen animal health and food security is also on the agenda.

This strategy is based on the Federal Office for the Environment’s 2025 climate risk analysis, as well as on the 2025 climate scenarios from the federal technology institute ETH Zurich and the Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology MeteoSwiss.

Climate change consequences: Skiers in Engelberg on January 7, 2023. The so-called zero-degree limit, where rain turns to snow, has risen by several hundred metres since the early 20th century and is projected to climb another 550 metres by the end of the century, to around 1,450 metres in winter.

Climate adaptation

Switzerland braces for more heatwaves, droughts and violent storms

This content was published on

Nov 4, 2025

Switzerland is heading for a future that is hotter, drier and more unpredictable, with less snow and heavier rainfall, according to a new climate report.